Fourteen Iranian sailors on a fishing vessel have been captured by Al-Shabab militia forces in Somali coastal waters.
Eyewitnesses in the Galgaduud region say the sailors have been transferred to a city 60 kilometres from the coast, BBC reports. Al-Shabab is in control of the Galgaduud region.
The news has been confirmed by an Al-Shabab spokesperson.
Captain Asghar Mohammadpoor, the head of Safety and Security for Islamic Republic Shipping, has told Central News Unit: “The ship apparently belongs to Islamic Republic Shilat and had been experiencing technical problems since two to three days ago in the Indian Ocean.”
Piracy had become prevalent in Somali waters; however, in recent months there has been little pirate activity in the region.
